St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-04-16
MADDENED BY BLOOD.
A Story OF Wolves and the North.
western Wilds.

Two OF rs had been hunting at ReC
Lake river, Northwestern Minnesota
for several weeks in November anC
December of the year 1873, when the
unfortunate adventure | propose to re.
late occurred. We had built us good
stout shanty in the woods, and had
made all calculations to remain in that
locality until spring. My companion
was Walter Zane. and he was much the
larger and older of the two.
Snow came about the 10th of Novem-
Der. and came deep. A little was added
to it almost daily until the first week
in December, when the quantity was so
great that we could scarcely move
about. We had two mules with us,
and these were always secured at night
in a rough pen built against the cabin.
We had trapped or shot several wolves,
and though we knew they were about
us in great numbers, we had no fear of
them until the deep snow came on. The
weather held cold, and there was no
snow for a clust to form, and as moth
ing could move about, all animals of
prey must have been put to it to secure
sufficient food to sustain life. There
were several days in which we did not
stir abroad, and these we employed in
strengthening cabin and pen, repairing
our outfit and getting ready for the
work which would come with change
of weather. One morning we awokc
to find warm sun and south wind
melting the snow and settling it down.
but as night came the wind changed.
the temperature fell, and we knew that
next morning would find crust on the
snow strong enough to bear us up.
Such turned out to be the case. The
snow was more solidly packed and its
surface was SO slippery that we could
go anywhere on our ice-skates. I
weighed only 120 pounds, and could
move with safety. Zane weighed 1856
pounds, and there were places where
he would break through.
We knew that game of all kinds
would now be astir, and that if we could
start up adeer his career would be short,
and we made every thing snug at the
cabin, and we're off as soon as break
fast had been dispatched. We had some
traps with us to set, and some already
in position to look after, and it came
noon before we realized it. We then
had several fresh pelts with us
and were about three miles from the
cabin. In the open places, where the
snow had melted most, the crust was all
right and Zane had no trouble, but in
the shelter of the trees, or at the bases
of hills, he would break through every
few yards, and the falls were not al
ways laughing matter. Several times
we caught sight of wolves, but they
were out of range and running with
great swiftness. After eating our
lucheon we proceeded down the river
in hopes to rouse up deer. Along the
stream on our side was strip of tim
Der about forty rods wide, and we felt
certain that it afforded cover for all
sorts of game. l could 60 any where
through the woods, but Zane was
obliged to keep on the southern skirts.
We had not gone over half mile when
reused up big buck, and as he went
off, breaking through the crust at ev-
cry leap, got snap shot, and missed.
It, however, turned his course, and
gave Zane chance, and after minute
or two heard the report of his rifle. |
This was followed by shout for help,
and reached him to find that he had |
met with a bad accident. He was
making ready to fire at the deer when
the snow-crust broke under him and
gave him a fall. The rifle was dis
charged as he went down, and the bull